Madison Freewheel Trail Gloves

The Madison Freewheel Gel Pad Trail glove is targeting the entry-level market, offering a quality glove for sensible money. The fit is excellent, and thanks to a thin palm, there is plenty of feel through to the handlebar. Whilst the gel pad may not be for everyone, it does a good job of reducing trail vibrations, which I found most useful for gravel riding. The wrist closure isn’t as snug as I’d want, and the internal seams are a little pronounced, however, the overall fit and finish are excellent, particularly at this price point.

Madison Freewheel Gel Pad Trail Glove – Technical Details

The Madison Freewheel Gel Pad Trail gloves are pitched as an entry-level trail glove with the added benefit of a gel palm pad for extra comfort on longer rides. A small gel pad is incorporated into the heel of the palm, adding some vibration damping, which is ideal for reducing fatigue on long, rough days in the saddle. The palm itself is constructed from a blend of 55% Polyamide and 45% Polyurethane, giving a soft microfibre-like material which is thin for maximum feel and grip.

Screen users can rest easy thanks to touchscreen-compatible fabric in the thumb, index and middle fingertips. These tips also see a silicone print to help with grip on the cockpit controls, such as brake levers, shifters and dropper post levers.

Moving onto the back of the hand, a blend of 96% Polyamide and 4% Elastane gives a flexible and tough covering. In between the fingers, a fine, stretchy mesh gives plenty of breathability and movement. A large microfibre wipe is included on the back of each thumb, handy for keeping glasses and lenses clean. Finishing off the glove is an elasticated cuff with a Velcro tab adjuster to get the fit just right.

Madison backs these gloves with its lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship over its expected lifetime. In addition, a 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to return up to 30 days after purchasing for a no-questions-asked refund.

Available in six sizes ranging from XS – XXL and four colourways (black, blue, red and green), there should be a size and style to suit all.

Madison Freewheel Gel Pad Trail Glove – Performance

Starting with the fit, Madison has got this spot on with the size large fitting exactly as expected. Each finger is the perfect length, leaving no baggy fingertips, although the wrist is perhaps a little on the large side, as it doesn’t exactly achieve a snug fit. Whilst the inner seams are a little more pronounced than you’d see on a more premium glove, Madison has been clever by wrapping the palm material over the top of the fingertip, resulting in no seam at the fingertip. This gives an excellent feel from the glove whilst riding and even allows you to write coherent messages on your phone fully gloved. On the topic of touchscreens, the compatibility is excellent even when soaked through.

The gel pad is a little divisive, and whilst it is not something I’d normally choose based on favouring maximum control and feel through the bars, it does have some advantages. The Freewheel Trail glove uses a small, well-placed pad, which does help to take some of the vibrations out of the handlebar feedback, particularly where they’d transfer into your hand bones. I found this most useful when riding up on the hoods of a gravel bike, where there is little hiding from trail-induced vibrations. Whilst on the mountain bike, I found it to be less advantageous, however, the pad certainly didn’t detract from feel.

The back of the hand has plenty of stretch, so I’ve never felt any restriction here. It’s proved tough enough to withstand the usual trail duties, however, thorns can pick at the threads a little.

These are on the thinner side for gloves suiting spring, summer and autumn conditions. There is a great balance between keeping the wind chill out whilst not overheating on warmer days.

Madison Freewheel Gel Pad Trail Glove – Verdict

Coming in at £20, these really are a great entry-level glove offering a great fit and higher than expected quality. There are, of course, plenty of glove options on the market worth considering. For a little more money, at £28, the Fox Racing Ranger Glove is a solid option which is durable and offers a great fit. If you’re specifically after vibration padding, Leatt MTB 3.0 Endurance glove is another option, although this comes in at £35.

The Madison Freewheel Gel Pad Trail gloves are an excellent shoulder season and summer glove offering great bar feel. The sizing is spot on, and although the wrist closure isn’t as snug as I’d like and the internal seams are a little pronounced, they do reduce some trail-induced vibrations. Dexterity is excellent, and along with the touchscreen compatibility, they prove to be a solid and well-thought-out offering from Madison at a great price.

Madison Freewheel Gel Pad Trail Gloves